Back with the free car

David G

Well-known Member
My sister gave my son a, non running, 2002 Honda civic 5 speed with 184K that has sat in her garage for the last three years. I was lucky, as it was only that and the gas was empty, and what was left did not smell too bad. I pulled a battery out of the 44, put in 5 gallons and it popped right off when we got home. My boy is on spring break so we are going to spend the week making it road worthy. This is the sister that I built the tiny house for, they live in Minneapolis.

He is proud of punch at his new car and excited to work on it himself (well with me).

It does need all brakes, exhaust and am going to change all the fluids, timing belt and water pump before it rolls.

The tires are in good shape.
 
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I have a 2005 Civic bought new. It has about 285,000 miles and (knock on wood) has been a trouble free car and a daily driver; great gas mileage too.

If you're not sure - change the timing belt and while you're at it the water pump too. If the timing belt lets go, you're looking at major engine damage.

Bill
 
How big a job is it to change the timing belt on something like that? I was visiting with a guy today whose wife drives an Equinox, and the belt broke. The dealer said they have to take the engine out to change it, and it would be 3 weeks! I suppose they are short of help like everyplace so that explains the 3 weeks, but taking the engine out! The only car I ever changed a timing belt on was a Thunderbird turbo coupe, and that was easy.
 
Good deal glad yall back safe and glad he is happy with the new to him car. Sounds like just regular maintenance stuff so not bad at all. Tell the young man to be safe.
 
Honda timing belts are pretty darn easy to change especially if it didnt break. I have done many, although I hate working on hondas.... seems as my big ole meat hooks are to big and I'm cursing my bloody knuckles!
 
(quoted from post at 06:43:53 03/18/19) How big a job is it to change the timing belt on something like that? I was visiting with a guy today whose wife drives an Equinox, and the belt broke. The dealer said they have to take the engine out to change it, and it would be 3 weeks! I suppose they are short of help like everyplace so that explains the 3 weeks, but taking the engine out! The only car I ever changed a timing belt on was a Thunderbird turbo coupe, and that was easy.

I am sure a Equinox has a timing chain and a P.O.S. at that... You buy chit pay the price and bless it with your wallet... I would junk it and move on with life better vehicles are out there...
 
Russ, I looked on Youtube. Knowing the year or engine size would help, but all I saw were timing chains, not belts.

They generally are a lot more involved than a belt. The chain is inside the front cover, where a belt is on the outside.

Running it until it broke also can complicate things, bent valves, shrapnel in the oil pan, damage from a wadded up chain...

But to answer the question, I don't know if it has to come out. Being a dealer, they probably have the lift to take it out the bottom. That will make it easier.

Hope he got an estimate first!
 
I did a timing belt on a Honda about that vintage a few years ago.

I had to make a special socket contraption to get the front pulley off. Might can get a loaner from Autozone now, if it's the model that needs it.
 
I changed the timing belt on grandson's '98 Honda Oddesy 4 cylinder van. Not too bad a bad job. I rented the crankshaft holding tool from O'Rileys and bought an alternator and air conditioning belt there. When you get the tool you pay a deposit and when I returned it they refunded the deposit. I found that Rock Auto had a very good deal on a Gates timing belt package with the belt,Idler,springs and water pump all in a kit ready to use. I don't remember the price, but it was much less than buying individual parts one at a time. It is wise to change the water pump while you are in there since it is a very wear susceptible item. On this one the impeller blades were worn very badly. Be sure you have your 10 mm socket and a 10 mm Gear Head ratcheting wrench is a very useful tool on this job also.
Gene Davis
 
The 2.3L in the Bird are not interference engines. I broke one on the interstate when 800 miles from home, needing to be back at work the next morning. Got towed to autozone and changed it in their parking lot. Took about 2 hours with a homeless guy trying to "help" me... Timed it by ear, and drove it home hard through the night.

On the Civic, it is pretty easy other than the front pulley. You will need the tool to hold the pulley, and wonder the whole time how they got the bolt that tight without breaking it.
 
I've done the Gates timing kits before as well and they are a good deal. think i got mine from ammazoon. they have worked well and have lasted too.

rockkauto's shipping often kicks them out of the running... just bought new brake pads and sway bar link for my old 2000 Chrysler 300M (268000 miles) and looked at advance auto (carquest) with 20% discount, Rockkauto, ammazoon and eebay... ammazoon and eebay were the same price shipped. Rockkauto was $10 more shipped. amazon bet them all for shipping time of course but i went with ebaay. advance auto with their 20% discounts quite often gets them in contention but their brake pads didn't have much selection. but those cars are getting to be 15 years old at the newest.
 
"popped right off" so you didn't pull the plugs and pre-lube the cylinders on a dry engine?
You might change out the filters while your at it.
Have fun.
I have been broken of the habit of timing belt engines.
 
Think 2010 and up 4 cyl. Equinox has about three chains, don't know if they put any v/6s in them that might have a belt.
 

Don't get a Dayco kit...

I have had two tensioners fall in the last year and a idler pulley no more of that junk for me...
 

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